******This recruitment is closing on February 2, 2026******

About the position

Job Appointment: Full time

Work Schedule: Current position is for a night shift, During training multiple shifts will be worked. 12 hour night shifts with every other weekend off, for example (19:45-08:00 shift: Fri-Sun), Mon-Tues off, (01:30-08:00 shift: Wed-Fri), Sat-Sun off, (19:45-08:00 shift: Mon-Tues), Wed-Thur off. Other shift may be available in the future.

Work Location: Lusted Hill Treatment Facility, 6704 SE Cottrell Road, Gresham, OR 97080, and Headworks Treatment Facility, 50105 SE Rock Cut Road, Cottrell, OR 97019, with frequent service visits to associated locations nearby.

Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Union Representation: American Federation of State, County, and municipal Employees, AFSCME 189. To view this labor agreement, please click here.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.

Position Summary

The Water Treatment Operator (WTO) I position is in the Operations Group of the Portland Water Bureau. This position assists in operating and maintaining the City’s potable water treatment facilities and systems associated with the Bull Run Supply. These responsibilities must be carried out in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements. In addition, the Water Treatment Operator I position assists in operating and maintaining the infrastructure that enables raw water to be diverted as part of meeting obligations under the Bull Run Water Supply Habitat Conservation Plan and assists in completing inspections and collecting samples associated with meeting the requirements of the Bull Run Treatment Variance.

Under General supervision, Water Treatment Operator I’s perform a combination of technical and mechanical duties in the ongoing operation and maintenance of the water treatment system. The Water Treatment Operator I position is a training position within the Water treatment Operator series. This position works alongside and assists Water treatment Operator II’s.

Upon gaining the essential skills, qualifying experience, and required Water Treatment certification with the Oregon Health Authority, the WTO I move to the Water Treatment Operator II classification through a Classification Action & Position Request (CAPR) process.

Typical duties for this role include:

1. Assists with and learns to collect water samples and analyze for appropriate physical and chemical dosages and feed rates; assists with and learns to calculate chemical dosages and feed rates and adjust appropriately.

2. Assists with and learns to monitor water treatment system through electronic and computerized systems; learns to make adjustments in water flow and corresponding chemical adjustments; assists with and learns to operate treatment process facilities on assigned shift.

3. Assists with and learns to respond to emergency alarms, isolating problem area and taking immediate corrective action to resolve the problem within established federal and state regulations; assists with and learns to test emergency equipment on established schedule to ensure constant emergency preparedness.

4. Assists with and learns to maintain the operational integrity of the water treatment facilities through daily inspection and identification of needed repair and maintenance.

5. Assists with and learns to conduct preventive and general maintenance on a variety of small and large equipment and specialized instrumentation such as valves, pumps, chlorine residual analyzers, pH meters, turbidimeters, generators, fuel systems, conduit pipes, and various compressed gas systems.

6. Learns to use computer technology to record water sample data and transmit to other offices, such as water quality and regulatory compliance laboratory.

7. Responds to calls to work during emergencies. 8. Performs related duties as assigned.

Wage Information
$34.31 hourly - entry salary
$35.93 hourly - salary after six months
$37.71 hourly - after one year

About the Water Bureau: The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) serves almost a million people in the Portland area, about a quarter of Oregon's population. PWB employs over 600 people providing responsive service to build and maintain a water system that enhances public health and safety and contributes to the economic vitality and livability of the Portland metropolitan region. To learn more about working at Water visit our website: https://www.portland.gov/water/about-us/work-water

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Tami Larison, Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Tamara.larison@portlandoregon.gov

All of the following minimum qualifications are required for this position. Applicants must specifically address in their resume and answers to supplemental questions how their education, training, work experience, and/or lived experience, meets each of the following:

1. Knowledge of mechanical processes.
2. Knowledge of state and federal drinking water regulations.
3. Ability to learn water system functions and operations.
4. Ability to perform accurate mathematical equations.
5. Ability to diagnose and correct equipment problems.

Applicants must also possess:

• Valid state driver’s License and acceptable driving record;

• Ability to pass the a Prehire Evaluation that may require a medical exam, screenings and physical capacities test (PCT), after an offer of employment has been made and accepted.
• Ability to pass routine respiratory protection physical examination evaluation and fit testing within 6 months of appointment and ongoing.
• Ability to obtain a Water Treatment Certificate of Competency – Level 1,(Download PDF reader) issued by the Oregon Health Authority within 24 months of appointment.

STEP 1: Apply online between January 12, 2026 – February 2, 2026

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc) by the closing date of the recruitment.
  • Effective January 1, 2026, the State of Oregon law ORS 408.225 - 408.238 is amended to expand eligibility for Veterans’ Preference to current and former Oregon National Guard service members. If applicants are existing state or former Oregon National Guard servicemembers, they are encouraged to attach appropriate documentation to their future recruitment applications.
  • Update: As of March 3, 2025, if you have already submitted veteran documents and qualified for preference, you do not need to resubmit them for future recruitments.
  • To update or remove veteran preference for this recruitment or from your profile, contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips:

• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.

• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

STEP 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of February 2, 2026

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

STEP 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of February 9, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

STEP 4: Selection (Interview): Late February to Early March 2026

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview

STEP 5: Offer of Employment: March 2026

Step 6: Prehire Evaluation: To Be Determined

As part of the conditional job offer, candidates must complete a Prehire Evaluation during the hiring process/probationary period. The Prehire Evaluation may consist of a medical exam, screenings, and a physical capacities test (PCT) required for work clearance and safety compliance. The PCT measures physical ability through job-related tasks such as lifting, carrying, climbing, shoveling, and repetitive movements. Unless already employed in a City position requiring a similar or more demanding PCT, candidates must pass all required tasks to proceed with employment. For more information visit the Prehire Evaluation page.

STEP 7: Start Date: March to April 2026

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations